Sighthound Large size 18-35 kg
Chortaja Borzaja
A lean Russian coursing sighthound with strong prey drive - calm indoors but needs secure space and sprint exercise.
Match with your household
See match detail → Quick overview
Large
Size
18-35 kg, 61-75 cm
High
Activity
Bursts of speed, calm at rest
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Fairly independent
Moderate
Trainability
Trainable but with a hunting mind
Low
Coat care
Short coat, minimal grooming
Moderate
Fit with kids
Gentle but not rough-play tolerant
Poor
Other pets
Strong prey drive toward small pets
Light
Health burden
Osteosarcoma (bone cancer), Bloat (GDV)
The Chortaja Borzaja typically weighs 18-35 kg, stands 61-75 cm, and lives 12-14 years.
Consider this breed if…
you have access to safely fenced open space for real sprints,
you appreciate a quiet, undemanding housemate between runs,
you understand sighthounds - recall is a project, leashes are life,
you are prepared to import; this breed barely exists outside Eastern Europe.
Do not consider this breed if…
cats, rabbits or other small pets live in the home - the coursing drive is genuine,
you want off-leash freedom in unfenced areas,
you expect obedience-champion compliance; this dog thinks for itself,
you cannot arrange regular gallop opportunities - walks alone do not cut it.
A typical day with a Chortaja Borzaja
- 7:00 · MorningLeash walk; scanning the horizon the whole way
- 9:00 · MidmorningSleeps on the softest furniture available
- 13:00 · NoonShort stroll, more napping
- 16:30 · AfternoonSprint session in a fenced field or lure coursing
- 19:00 · EveningQuietly present with the family, undemanding
- 22:00 · NightCurled up, out cold until morning
Family and environment
Kids Conditional
Gentle with calm kids; walks away from rough play.
Dogs Conditional
Good with other sighthounds; play style is chase-heavy.
Cats Risky
Coursing breed; outdoor cats read as quarry.
Apartment Conditional
Quiet indoors, but sprint access is non-negotiable.
House with a yard Suitable
Fencing must be high and secure.
City Manages
On leash always; squirrels are a test of grip strength.
Countryside Ideal
Its native setting - with secure boundaries.
Health data provided by RealVetCost Overall health burden Light
Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.
View the full health profileTop health concerns
Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) Sighthound risk
Bloat (GDV) Deep-chested risk
Dilated cardiomyopathy Monitor heart with age
Anesthesia sensitivity Lean sighthounds need adjusted protocols
Similar breeds - by reason
Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.
Long-coated Russian cousin, easy to actually find
Borzoi
An elegant, quiet sighthound that lounges indoors but sprints after anything that moves - independent, tall, and needing a secure area to run.
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Same short-coat sprint profile, adoptable retirees
Greyhound
The original 70 km/h couch potato - calmer indoors than most small breeds, with a hard-wired chase instinct that never fully switches off.
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Another lean, independent desert-type courser
Saluki
A graceful, sensitive sighthound that is calm at home but needs secure sprinting space - its intense prey drive rules out off-leash areas and small pets.
View profile →Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chortaja Borzaja cost?
There is no meaningful US breeder base - this working coursing hound is kept mainly in Russia and parts of Eastern Europe, so a US buyer is looking at an import with transport and paperwork that can easily total $2,000-$3,500, plus a long search for a breeder willing to export. Lifetime food and routine care for a large dog typically add $15,000-$25,000 or more.
How is the Chortaja different from a Borzoi?
The Chortaja is the short-haired steppe coursing hound: smaller, lighter and kept as a rugged working hunter rather than a show breed. The Borzoi is its glamorous long-coated cousin with a large Western breeder base. If you want the type without the import hunt, the Borzoi or Greyhound is the practical route.
Can a Chortaja Borzaja live with a cat?
Indoors, with a cat it was raised alongside, sometimes - but this is a breed selected for generations to chase and catch fast small animals, and a running cat outdoors flips that switch instantly. Homes with small pets should honestly pick a different breed rather than plan to manage it.
Is this breed hard to live with day to day?
Surprisingly not. Like most sighthounds it is quiet, clean and lazy indoors - the demanding parts are the leash discipline, the secure fencing and arranging genuine sprint outlets a few times a week. Low-confidence note: day-to-day data on this rare landrace is thin, so expect individual variation.